The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-02-17
tuberculosis.

FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS DISEASE.
The Legislative committee on agriculture have
been lmportuned to make the most thorough in
Ne>tigaton into the subject of the above disease.
which brought so great a misfortune to our state
College Farm, necessitating the slaughter of their
fine herd of hlooded cattle last season. As nearly
a. the Committee can ascertain, this disease, being
slow in its progress, had been lurking and about
this farm some ten years, showing itself several
times during that period by the occasional loss of
an animal, but not 20 such degree to
alarm to the arrangement until last season. Then,
there being some fifty head of fine jersey cows
which had been kept in rather close quarters and
highly fed f"r some time. it assumed
yirJlcnt form Many of these fat, sleek, valuable
hlo"dcd cows were taken coughing. which is the
first symptom noticeable and the Faculty becoming
alarmed the state Board of Commissioners for dis
ca~ed animal: called and the Veterinarian, DR..
Bailey. pronounced the disease tuberculosis. After
consultation with Dr. Missioner of New York, T. $.
Assistant veterinarian. no confirmed Dr.. Bailey 5
fears. and consulting with the Governor and Coun-
ell, il was decided to kill the whole herd This
was undoubtedly a wise conclusion although many
OF thr animals, if they could have been scattered
i'll "nt door lots, would have lived years and enjoyed
apparent health.
These animals when. iiS,ectrd show about the
liver lungs and heart and sometimes adherng to
the ribs tubcrccs, small at first which increase in
number and size as the disease develops. Animals
thus affected live and thrive a term of wears Dr.
Bailey cited ease of ten wears standing I
have frequently shipped and sold animals in
Brighton market that had taken on fat well and
were number one beef, yet when slaughtered they
showed tuhcrcles on the lungs
We think this disease is quite common now in
Maine. and II Is scattered all over New England
and particularly in Massachusetts, In the latter
state the Commissioners on Diseases of Animals
recommend that animals attacked should be
tattcn"d CT otherwise disposed Of.
An attempt is being made to get up great scare
oNer this matter. This is against the interests of
our ihe state College Farm, which should be stock
a." with nice cattle in the interest of the stock h,ls
'h''rN OF Maine, 50 that every progressive farmer
in "ur state would look with pride upon it.
After giving this subject the most careful scru
tiny the Agricultural Committee eNonerated all
c"hcrrned, attaching 10 blame to any of our State
"ihrlai~. There seemed TO be division in the Cat
tie Commission about the construction of the law
After destroying the herd it was thought by some
that the Commission should have hunted out the
progeny tiiat had been sold of from the College
Farm, and which We're well scattered over Eastern
Maine, and destroy them. although they might he
wei! to all appearance. This, Secretary Z. A. Gil
bert, VIII" was eN-oilico member of the Commits
sion, took exceptions to, and gave as his reasons
that the law would not bear them out in taking and
Killing well animals. Some of the principal stock
men of the state seem to want more investigations
ii. G. iuilcigh, through senator Heath introduced
an order asking the Senate to choose Il commission
OF two with as many the House may join. to
further investigate, and Senator Allen and DR.. Rich
were appointed on the part of the senate, and 5. j.
Walton, L. c. Libby and DR.. Adams on the part of
the house. 10 further investigate everything pertain
ing t" this matter A public hearing will be had
at the state house the last of this week. and anyone
III the state knowing anything about this disease
Will be heard, and communications touching
these matters which will enlighten the committee
anu the pubic are solicited. &c. LIBBY.